Lecture 20+21: CNS, PNS, ANS & sensory networks Flashcards
Give an outline of the anatomy of the CNS
CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.
Give an outline of the anatomy of the PNS
PNS consists of cranial, spinal nerves
Give an outline of the ANS
Subunit of the PNS which involves ganglia and nerves related to them.
Give the different classes you can separate the ANS into and a brief description of each class.
Sympathetic: whole body response fight/flight/freeze
Parasympathetic: localised response rest/digest
Enteric: nervous system of the gut
Identify the anatomy of spinal cord.
2 Dorsal horns
2 ventral horns
Central grey matter (unmyelinated axons, dendrites)
Peripheral white matter (myelinated axons)
Central canal
2 Dorsal roots
2 Ventral roots
Why do myelinated axons/ nerves appear white?
Myelin is made of mostly lipid and water. Lipids don’t stain or are stripped away when stained.
What is a ganglion?
A cluster of cell bodies in the PNS not the CNS.
The ventral and dorsal side of the spinal cord tend to either a sensory/motor role. Which side favours which?
Ventral = motor Dorsal = sensory
If a junior doctor performs a knee jerk reflex test on a patient, can you describe how the knee jerks up?
- Stimulus = knee hits hammer
- Sensory receptors in the muscle detect this
- Sensory neuron sends electrical signals to the L3 + L4 in the spinal cord.
- Electrical signals sent to the motor neuron.
- This signal then send to the muscle (effector)
- Response is that the muscles contract = knee jerks
Give an outline of how a reflex arc works involving the structures of the spinal cord.
- Stimulus–>Receptor–>spinal nerve–> sensory neuron
- SENSORY= DR ganglion–>dorsal root–>dorsal horn–>
- MOTOR= Ventral horn–>ventral root–>spinal nerve–>
- effector –> response
The ANS is made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Describe the 2 types of neurons between the CNS & target organ regarding both NS.
Pre-ganglionic found in CNS whereas post ganglionic in PNS.
Sympathetic: shorter pre-ganglionic (sympathetic chain) & longer post ganglionic nerves to target muscles.
Parasympathetic: longer pre-ganglionic and shorter post ganglionic (attached/near muscle surfaces)
Where are the autonomic preganglionic neurone somas found in the CNS?
Sympathetic: lateral horn in T1-L2 cord segment
Parasympathetic: S2-S4 cord segments and brainstem
Describe briefly how sympathetic chain communicates with the spinal nerves after:
1. sensory neurone synapses with the motor neurone.
- MOTOR= myelinated sympathetic pre-ganglionic soma in lateral horn—> ventral horn, root–> white ramus communicans
- White ramus communicans = myelinated so motor neurone goes through here first
- Synapses –> unmyelinated post ganglionic nerves in sympathetic ganglion.
- Exits ganglion via grey ramus communicans
- Post ganglionic nerve –> effector–> response
The sympathetic preganglionic arise in T1-L2 cord segments to supply the skin with dermatomes via 3 routes. How does the sympathetic nervous system supply the trunk of the body (T1-L2)?
Sympathetic pre-ganglionic nerves exist only in between T1-L2 cord segments of the body. As the trunk is where T1-L2 is found, the postganglionics can synapse directly to their target organs.
The sympathetic preganglionic arise in T1-L2 cord segments to supply the skin with dermatomes via 3 routes. How does the superior part of the body (head & neck) get supplied with dermatomes?
Sympathetic pre-ganglionic nerves exist only in between T1-L2 cord segments of the body. The pre-ganglionics enter & ascend the sympathetic chain. The pre-ganglionics can synapse with the postganglionics and supply the superior dermatomes.
The sympathetic preganglionic arise in T1-L2 cord segments to supply the skin with dermatomes via 3 routes. How odes the inferior part of the body (lower limbs) get supplied with dermatomes?
Sympathetic pre-ganglionic nerves exist only in between T1-L2 cord segments of the body. Pre-ganglionics enter & descend sympathetic chain. Pre-ganglionics synapse with the postganglionics and supply the inferior dermatomes.
How does the sympathetic nervous system supply the abdominal viscera with pre-ganglionic input?
Sympathetic pre-ganglionics go through the sympathetic chain and use specialised splanchnic nerves to synapse with the postganglionics. Postganglionics get to their targets along blood vessels (pre-aortic ganglion).
Where do parasympathetic preganglionic neurones synapse with the target organs proximity wise?
The neurones synapse in ganglia that is close to the target organs/tissues.
Them major source of input to the thoracic & abdominal viscera is the ……………………
Vagus nerve
The head has 4 specialised parasympathetic ganglia. Can you name which ganglia receives pre-ganglionics from:
- the oculomotor nerve
- facial nerve
- glossopharyngeal nerve
- oculomotor = ciliary ganglion
- facial = pterygopalatine ganglion/ submandibular ganglion
- glossopharyngeal = otic ganglion
The head has 4 specialised parasympathetic ganglia. Can you name what target tissue would receive postganglionics from:
- ciliary ganglion
- pterygopalatine ganglion
- submandibular ganglion
- otic ganglion
- ciliary = eye
- pterygopalatine = lacrimal gland
- submandibular = submandibular & sublingual gland
- otic = parotid gland